Chapter 44: Aiming at the Fierce Tiger
Can we sell this to the Southern Xiongnu?
With Wang Rou, the Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu, in the mix, it’s a piece of cake. Trade could even tilt in our favor.
Keep in mind, the Protector-General holds a position within the Southern Xiongnu royal court in Xihe Commandery that even surpasses that of their Chanyu.
Plus, since the time of Emperor Xianwen, the Yunzhong Prefect started establishing military markets along the border—essentially trade fairs for soldiers. From these military markets gradually sprang up commercial markets, allowing garrisoned soldiers to trade with the Hu people during peaceful times, which further gave rise to some private markets.
If this is how it works at the critical border of Yunzhong, it’s got to be even easier in Xihe Commandery, where the Southern Xiongnu have already declared allegiance.
The Southern Xiongnu’s nomadic lifestyle and production abilities mean even in their settled state, they have a huge demand for Han goods.
This trade won’t embolden them.
After all, from the battles of the past few years—like the Ji Lu Mountain battle in the first year of Yongyuan, the Yiwu battle in the second year, and the He Yun North battle in the same year, along with the joint suppressions of Southern Xiongnu rebellions in the third and fifth years of Yongchu and Yonghe—they’re pretty scared of the Han. They’re definitely bowing down to us.
As long as the central authority remains steady, whether the Northern Xiongnu roam freely outside or the Southern Xiongnu stay loyal inside, this trade will see their cattle and horses flowing into the Han, stabilizing the border further.
The only thing to watch out for is what Cai Yong warned Liu Hong of in his memorial before his demotion: “The borders aren’t secure, and many things slip through. Precious metals and good iron end up in the hands of thieves.” Therefore, we need to be vigilant about Han ironware reaching the Hu people.
That’s also part of the job for the current Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu.
But alcohol clearly isn’t fazed by this, especially good alcohol.
The Xiongnu haven’t developed large-scale grain farming; how can they spare surplus grain for brewing?
Wang Yang remembered that Wang Rou had mentioned in a letter before that the Southern Xiongnu love good wine, especially strong liquor, but the cost of brewing quality alcohol is where the problem lies. The profits from trading with the Xiongnu barely compare to sending it off to Luoyang, meaning sales are consistently low.
However, according to Qiao Yan, the alcohol in question wasn’t crafted from top-notch ingredients, and you could say it’s on par with the most common types. Once you master the method, it could definitely be pushed onto the Southern Xiongnu.
“Regular alcohol has a yield of over two times. This method is similar, with no losses in quality,” Qiao Yan observed, noticing the lightbulb go off in Wang Yang’s head and visibly piqued his interest.
This was practically an acknowledgment of brewing costs.
Wang Yang couldn’t help but lean in closer.
“The reason I say handing this method to the Wang family is a huge profit is that besides the Wang family, no one else has the access to trade in bulk with the Southern Xiongnu. Additionally, the previous Protector-General got replaced with a Right Noble King as their Chanyu, while the Left Noble King and Left Guli Wang are restless. If we could trade alcohol to get some Southern Xiongnu warhorses in exchange, wouldn’t that enhance Wang Shu’s chances of suppressing them?”
“If we could get five fine horses for a cart of mediocre alcohol, wouldn’t it be feasible to exchange the newly brewed quality liquor for seven horses?”
Feasible! Why not?
Wang Yang’s mind was whirling with calculations.
He had personally tasted the difference between this alcohol and the earlier product from the same ingredients. The Southern Xiongnu might be a different tribe, but they didn’t have tongues entirely opposed to our flavors—they wouldn’t miss the difference.
In fact, they might even feel like the Han were doing them a solid, selling them alcohol worth ten horses for the price of seven!
There was a clear divide in attitudes among the Southern Xiongnu; some were disgruntled, while the newly rising Xiutu Tribes shared a hatred for the Han that required military suppression. All the Southern Xiongnu needed was to realize the benefits of aligning with the Han, which would suffice.
Following the previous Protector-General’s aggressive switch-up of the Xiongnu Chanyu, this current one could definitely play the more amicable approach.
If there’s a way for the Wang family to help him establish that pacification without hurting their own interests, Wang Yang would gladly take on that task.
There was even a real chance of making great profits.
And what Qiao Yan referred to as “great fame” also involved Wang Rou’s piece of the action, equating to a bonus for the Wang family of Jinyang!
The Wang family from Qixian produced Wang Zishi, who is gaining renown for taking down Yellow Turbans in Yu Province. Though they aren’t as high as Wang Shu in position right now, they could still be overtaken by the competition in the future.
Gaining a chip in the game right now was undeniably a blessing.
In exchange, all he needed to do was report a merit to the Qiao family after the plans materialized.
Thinking this through, Wang Yang couldn’t help but sport a slight smile before quickly suppressing it, realizing he shouldn’t reveal his excitement so plainly.
He spoke up, “If what you’re saying is true, this matter is way more than just profitable for the Wang family—it’s a significant favor! But I wonder—”
“With you sitting on ten thousand households in Leping, plenty of land to your name, why not take this on yourself? The private market in Xihe Commandery is quite established now; you could just head there directly without needing Uncle Yu’s connections.”
Qiao Yan shook her head. “That’s a faulty assumption; Leping isn’t as well-off as Jinyang right now. Recovering from last year’s natural disasters will take at least two or three years of steady farming. If we started brewing and selling all the produce now, if another drought or locust plague hit next year, what would we do? That’s akin to draining a pond dry—no way I could pull this off.”
“Secondly, the Wang family already has a winery; it’s far more efficient for them than my temporary purchases. We need to dissolve the Southern Xiongnu’s grievances, and that’s not just a family matter—it’s a massive benefit for the Han. Understanding our strengths and specializing will help us achieve our goals swiftly. My grandfather had a heart for the Han and was buried in Leping; I can’t let him down.”
Wang Yang listened and thought to himself, this Qiao Yan is no ordinary character.
If such a steady and skillful hand were in the opposing camp, it would be the scariest thing in the world. Fortunately, she seems to lack the arrogance that often comes with talent; instead, she’s keen on establishing a partnership right off the bat.
Qiao Yan raised her still-warm cup and added, “Don’t laugh, but there’s a third reason.”
“I’m all ears!”
Qiao Yan: “It’s only natural for people to chase fame and fortune. There’s no need to beat around the bush. The Wang family wants to profit from selling wine, and the Southern Xiongnu wants to trade; does that mean I, Qiao Yan, can escape this norm? Since I mentioned starting a transaction with the Wang family, of course I want a share. If the Wang family can provide that share, why should I have the folks from Leping dive into the brewing business?”
“And what exactly is the ‘share’ you seek?” Wang Yang inquired.
“Quality seeds, grain, and horses.”
Once she said that, Wang Yang couldn’t help but burst out in laughter.
What kind of “profit” is that?
Compared to the profits generated from innovative brewing techniques dominating Tang’s market, or the political clout Wang Rou would gain from selling good wine to the Southern Xiongnu, Qiao Yan merely wanted some seeds and horses? To him, it was practically the same as wanting nothing.
Besides her mature and measured dealings, which didn’t suggest she’d demand outrageous terms, just her reputation and capability alone made Wang Yang willing to pay some price to court her.
Good grain seeds weren’t hard to gather with the Wang family’s standing in Jinyang, and horses could be easily supplied after trading with the Southern Xiongnu.
He decisively declared, “Feel free to name your price!”
He even considered picking out a fine horse from the Wang family’s stash to give to Qiao Yan as a gift, perhaps making sure Uncle Yu keeps an eye on this matter during future exchanges with the Xiongnu.
Once he got the Nine Brew Spring brewing method from Qiao Yan, a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.
After handing over the method’s notes to his servant, he invited Qiao Yan to a banquet and listened to her talk about how in Luoyang, her grandfather had praised Wang Rou, calling him quite the general. Wang Yang’s smile grew increasingly genuine.
“By the way, there’s one more thing I need to trouble you with, senior.” Qiao Yan added.
Wang Yang wasn’t surprised; what she wanted could still be easily executed.
It simply required him to be discreet while transporting ten thousand shi of grain to Leping and to be a bit more conspicuous after arriving at the Leping border.
Whether she wanted to create an impression of abundance in the granaries for peace of mind, or to let Leping know of her partnership with the Wang family so policies could be effectively carried out, or whatever other ideas she had, it was all beneficial for the Wang family.
“Don’t worry, Qiao Yan. I’ll ensure it’s done perfectly. But concerning this brewing method, receiving a small price reduction on ten thousand shi of grain makes me feel a bit guilty for reaping too much profit.” Wang Yang reflected, “So let me increase it to fifteen thousand shi, and I’ll send a few of my family’s officers along to assist you.”
Qiao Yan had no reason to refuse his goodwill; as both parties were simply fulfilling their needs, there’d surely be more opportunities for interaction in the future.
The Wang family of Taiyuan, aside from Wang Rou, who is currently the Protector-General, had another brother serving as the acting prefect of Dai Commandery, soon to rise to the position of General of the East. Surely, there would be chances to interact with Qiao Yan later on.
She clasped her hands and replied, “Thank you in advance for your kindness.”
After a enjoyable exchange, Wang Yang ensured that the quality seeds were loaded safely and personally escorted Qiao Yan out.
This treatment undoubtedly meant that Qiao Yan had gained the friendship of the Wang family from Taiyuan.
As she returned toward Leping, she caught sight of Yang Xiu’s complex expression.
Although he had already been aware in Luoyang that Qiao Yan was on another level with her foresight, otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to draft the Discourse on Feudalism outside Dingzhong Temple. Seeing his own proposition for trading with the Tang family look less beneficial compared to Qiao Yan’s plan for offloading alcohol to the Southern Xiongnu while directly courting support from noble families in Bingzhou clearly showcased two different approaches.
“How on earth did you come up with this method?” Yang Xiu finally asked after much internal conflict.
“The night before my grandfather passed away, he shared his life story, particularly during his time as the General of Expanding the Border—previous generals’ wisdom from their experiences suppressing the Xiongnu were all things he absorbed. The balance in Han-Xiongnu relations was also a lesson he imparted to me.”
From there, she foresaw the changes in the Southern Xiongnu three years down the line and needed to lay her groundwork early to avoid the fallout of the Black Mountain Bandits and the subsequent chaos in Bingzhou, despite the mountainous terrain. Under the Xiongnu’s iron hooves, it’d be difficult to find peace.
Leping would thus be a frequent target of wars, leaving it with no chance to flourish.
Qiao Yan added, “It’s really thanks to you following along; if I hadn’t wanted to challenge you with a problem, I wouldn’t have figured this out.”
This is what one might call a moment of inspiration.
But while she thought that, Yang Xiu clearly didn’t buy it as merely a personal reflection!
He couldn’t help but turn his head elsewhere, thinking how one could pose a question only to spill an advanced-level answer.
But he had to admit, in Qiao Yan’s actions, he truly benefited greatly.
Even she, with such exceptional gifts, had to weigh fame and fortune to ensure Leping could develop.
“Heck, even Yang Xiu isn’t that clever, so what kind of bragging rights does he have?”
He turned his head back and asked, “Should I continue researching this brewing technique?”
“Of course not,” Qiao Yan replied. “I had you focus on brewing initially just to get some convincing results out fast. Now that we’re gradually adding materials to Wang’s winery, it’ll definitely expand, and that’s not something we can compete with. But since we started this, I don’t plan to just let it go. I aim to be a little clever about it. Over the next two years, keep an eye on those working on skill advancements and the development of different types of wine. I’ve got other things for you to handle.”
Hearing “the next two years” from Qiao Yan, Yang Xiu breathed a sigh of relief, clearly understanding he wasn’t being kicked to the curb.
“What should I do?”
Qiao Yan replied, “As the Marquis of Leping, I need some personnel to handle my decrees. The common folk are mostly illiterate, and since Leping is remote, few officials come here. It might be better to pick some talented young people to teach, like Xu Fu.”
“You’ve started your education not long ago, so please draft a manual for beginners. If you have any uncertainties, feel free to consult Bojie.”
Yang Xiu accepted this task in confusion.
Only Qiao Yan could think of making kids write beginner manuals.
But Qiao Yan vaguely remembered that during the Tang dynasty, there was a guy named Li Han who compiled a children’s literacy textbook called “Meng Qiu,” which included a line about “Yang Xiu’s quick wit, Luo You remembering silently.” This method of combining famous people and their deeds into literacy lessons could definitely be adopted today, especially with Yang Xiu’s quick wit helping to create a full literacy poem.
This was undoubtedly better than something like the “Three Character Classic.”
She wouldn’t share these thoughts with Yang Xiu, but seeing the seriousness in her tone made him think she wasn’t just brushing him off, and he began to ponder on the way.
To teach people to read, he needed to recall the characters he learned back in the day.
He certainly wouldn’t think it odd for Qiao Yan to not take on this task herself, considering she was the Marquis of Leping and had too many pressing matters to handle.
Cai Zhaoji could lend a hand with this, but Qiao Yan had given her another task upon returning to Leping, leaving her no time to spare.
Qiao Yan instructed her to collaborate with Qin Yu, categorizing the good seeds they brought back, then figure out a planting method, write it down, and pass it to the county officials, so households could claim and register them to ensure the good seeds would reach every family and work as intended.
Since Jinyang and Leping weren’t far apart, and the good seeds weren’t foreign species, this was indeed a straightforward improvement measure.
Qin Yu—who happened to be Xu Fu’s mother—clearly knew more about farming than Cheng Li and Xu Fu, and was quite literate too, making her the most suitable person for the job.
Her assertiveness in driving here had left a great impression on Qiao Yan, and due to her excellent guidance of Xu Fu, Qiao Yan saw her potential for teaching, now placing her attention on this top priority in agriculture. Qiao Yan felt recruiting Xu Fu was a smart move and generously offered her the position of Assistant to the Marquis, which seemed to confirm Cheng Li’s earlier speculations.
Now with the newfound assistant role and the responsibility of distributing the good seeds, Qin Yu wasted no time and immediately started working with Cai Zhaoji.
After receiving this heavy responsibility, Qiao Yan then said, “Qin Yu, for the sake of stability, I wonder if one day I can credit you for the peace in Leping.”
This was undoubtedly a high expectation that startled her.
In the context of early marriages in the Eastern Han period, Xu Fu was fifteen, and Qin Yu was only around thirty, not exactly old.
She had chosen to follow Xu Fu to Leping, seeing that this boy, who had previously only wanted to be a wandering knight, now had aspirations for knowledge, realizing the positive influence Qiao Yan had on him.
Since that was the case, why couldn’t she follow the example of Meng Mu’s three relocations and accompany Xu Fu to Leping?
What she didn’t expect was that this young County Marquis, not only promoted talent without discrimination but also had an appreciation for capable women.
Qin Yu’s initial hesitations melted away with Qiao Yan’s words.
Indeed, how could being remembered as “Xu Fu’s mother” compare to leaving a legacy with her own name?
Moreover, now she was technically Xu Fu’s superior, which surely had a motivational impact on him.
However, with this responsibility on her shoulders, Qin Yu couldn’t afford any slack—every bit of good seed had to be used wisely in Leping.
Qin Yu had experience with farming, though she couldn’t claim to know everything about Bingzhou agriculture. Still, having grown up in the lower strata of society, communicating with local farmers wasn’t too tough.
When the local folks first saw Qiao Yan return with good seeds, they thought she was going to plant them on her own land, only to realize they were meant for them. Upon hearing Qin Yu’s words, they were quite open in sharing their thoughts.
Thus, scenes like this became common in Leping:
A woman in her thirties doing the inquiries, while a seven-year-old girl took notes beside her.
Qiao Yan observed the orderly agricultural work with great satisfaction.
With tax reductions and the good seed gifts benefiting the people, and a foundational stock of fifteen thousand stones of grain, she could proceed with her next moves.
Qiao Yan turned her gaze to Zhao Yun. “I see the weapons are coming along; would you be so kind as to accompany me?”
Clearly, what Qiao Yan was doing was more akin to foundational development than military armament, and Zhao Yun didn’t argue as he followed her.
If he had thought before that Qiao Yan’s promise to show him her actions in a month suggested she was a bit unprofessional, seeing her performance in front of Wang Yang soon erased that notion.
She had turned Leping’s grain surplus into a safety net while cleverly aiming it at the Southern Xiongnu—something only someone remarkable could pull off!
Though Zhao Yun hadn’t met many of the realm’s heroes, he felt that Qiao Yan’s performance was truly top-notch.
What particularly impressed him was that while she seemed adept at gathering wealth, she also understood not to exhaust resources and consistently showed kindness, whether through tax reductions or delivering good seeds.
Even if Qiao Yan claimed she simply followed the rules and systems, Zhao Yun focused on her actions over her words, feeling that trusting Qiao Yan to eliminate the Black Mountain Bandits was indeed the right choice.
Once inside a room in the county office with Qiao Yan, he was stunned.
Qiao Yan didn’t turn around but looked straight ahead, saying, “In the past month, during my free time, I followed my grandfather’s notes and built this.”
In the middle of the room lay a sizable wooden board raised to about waist height, on which a terrain of mountains and rivers had been sculpted from clay.
The model reminded him of the time Emperor Guangwu ran a sand table to illustrate the battle strategy in Longxi—Qiao Yan’s model wasn’t overly surprising in itself.
But if this model resembled a miniature Taihang Mountain, with even the passageways in the mountains crafted clearly, complete with flowing rivers below, it was undeniably remarkable.
Zhao Yun surveyed the Taihang Mountain shapes surrounding Leping and quickly spotted where he first encountered Qin Yu and Xu Fu; the terrain matched his memories perfectly.
This was a scene he had never imagined.
Hadn’t Qiao Gongzu already been buried deep underground, leaving no way for him to ask how such detailed records were made?
From the book Qiao Yan was holding, he could faintly see the outlines of mountain drawings and densely packed text, though not fully revealed, it appeared to be quite an impressive atlas.
But he quickly couldn’t think further about how this map had been recorded.
He watched as Qiao Yan picked up a wooden piece and placed it below one of the mountains, automatically leaning towards the direction she indicated.
This was a clear and straightforward expression.
Seeing Zhao Yun’s reaction, Qiao Yan felt relieved about her decision.
With the system’s 3D map function, it was clear she would also think to create a sand table.
Only having it visible to her seemed a shame; when crafting battle strategies, miscommunication was easier to occur, but right now…
As Zhao Yun regained his composure from the sudden surprise, she said, “The fifteen thousand stones of millet purchased from the Wang family will arrive in Leping soon, and I intend to find a secure place to store it.”
“The bandit leader in the Taihang Mountains isn’t just agile—he’s also cautious. However, if a tempting opportunity is at hand, I wonder if they can really sit still in the mountains.”
Her meaning was clear; she indicated this wooden piece represented the location of the granary.
To Zhao Yun’s eyes, it was undoubtedly an extraordinary spot.
“I’ve heard that if the interests are substantial enough, even the most usually composed individuals might take reckless risks and violate laws, and if the profits are multiples of their investment, they might even risk their lives for it,” Qiao Yan quipped with a slight smirk, “Of course, that’s an exaggeration.”
“But however exaggerated, one principle always holds true: when the bait is enticing enough, even knowing there might be hunters behind it, a fierce tiger might ponder whether it could not only feast on the bait but also strike at the hunter.”
Zhao Yun watched as she lifted another item from the side.
It was—
A scaled-down commander’s banner.
If they could construct mountains, rivers, and valleys here, making a mini version of the commander’s banner was clearly a breeze, and this red miniature banner boldly displayed the character “Qiao” with an audacious flair.
He suddenly realized this might be why Qiao Yan asked Wang’s people to deliver the millet to Leping with lots of fanfare—beyond just stabilizing her own people’s morale, it was undoubtedly meant to disturb the enemy’s spirit!
He watched as Qiao Yan decisively planted the commander’s banner between the North Mountain and Taihang Mountains.
In her deliberate motion, it matched the fierce intent she expressed earlier when discussing how unfavorable conditions were for military action.
As she released her hand and turned back, he didn’t know if it was the wind sweeping in from the not fully closed door, but it flared the character “Qiao” on the banner, casting it across the miniature fields laid out on the table.
And compared to that flashy banner, Qiao Yan herself shifted from her usual calm demeanor, exuding a more potent aura.
Though Zhao Yun heard her speak softly, her tone delivered a thunderous impact, “Yet even without claws and teeth, a hunter knows how to use tools, digs traps, and understands how to manage allies.”
This was evidently a continuation of her earlier comparison of the tiger and the hunter.
Moments later, she lifted her gaze to him, saying, “I aim for the tiger; may I ask for your assistance?”
